Softball
Softball
Gensch Earns Pro Tryout
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Jenny Gensch will tryout with National Pro Fastpitch's (NPF) Philadelphia Force on May 20th. |
The Apple Valley native was officially invited to the tryout on May 1st, and will fly out to Allentown, Pa. on May 19th for her two-hour session with the Force. On the 20th, Gensch will be one of just 15 players asked to convene at ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park with hopes of earning a pro contract.
She will know the afternoon of the tryout if she has been selected, and if the Force decide to sign her she will have only a matter of days to return home, pack her things, and get back out east to join her new team in spring training. Opening day for the Philadelphia Force is quickly approaching as they host a three game series against the Netherlands May 29-31. In total the Force will play a 51 game NPF schedule.
To her tryout, Gensch will bring with a host of records and accomplishments after a dream senior season for the Huskies. The two-time All-Conference performer began her magical season with a stretch where she twice hit two home runs in a game and had 10 HR after the first 11 contests. Her out of this world numbers included a 3-3, four run, five RBI day in the second game of the season, and 24 total RBI to go along with a .536 average after those same 11 games. She would go on to knock in three or more runs eight times on the season and a third time banged out two round trippers in game.
She recorded 21 multi-hit games and seven games with three hits to finish the season with a career high .406 average, the fifth best season in school history. Her average hovered around the .400 mark all season, never falling below .392. In her final two games as a Husky, Gensch went 5-7 at the plate scoring four runs and knocking in another. The four runs gave her 50 on the season, making her the first Husky to ever reach the half-century mark crossing the plate. Also that final RBI was her 62nd of the season, to give her a total eight better then any player before her. The record came on Apr. 15 when Gensch went 1-2 with three RBI to give her 55 on the season and break the five year old record of 54 set in 2003. Just three days later on Apr. 18 she would hit her 17th home run, which put her in a first place tie for the most in a single season in school history.
Her power numbers quickly earned the respect of her opponents as she was intentionally walked a school record four times in 2008. The four free passes were part of a school record 36 total walks in 2008, as she surpassed her own school record of 28 set just last season. Not to be overlooked is her ability in the field, where she made just nine errors in 254 chances at shortstop. Her 141 assists led the team while her .965 fielding percentage was a career high.
When speaking about the chance to play at the next level, Gensch said, “It is definitely flattering enough to be able to have the opportunity to go out there and have this experience, I’m very excited. I just have to go one step at a time and work as hard as I ever have and have fun.”
The NPF consists of six teams including the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, New England Riptide, Rockford Thunder, and the Washington D.C. Glory as well as the Philadelphia Force. Philadelphia is the youngest team in the league with operations beginning on December 22, 2005. The league has gone through several transformations since the original idea for a women’s professional softball league in January 1989.
The first games were played as part of the Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) tour in the summer of 1995 and league play began in May 1997. In December 1998 the league changed its name to the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) and began allowing national team members to compete, yet still maintain international eligibility. After a season off in 2001 to focus on expansion in 2002, the 2003 season included a name change to National Pro Fastpitch, and a 17-city All-Start tour. Also in 2002 the league made Major League Baseball (MLB) a development partner and on June 1, 2004, NPF kicked off it's inaugural season.
The league is littered with Division I and Olympic talent including 2004 gold medalists Jennie Finch, Leah O’Brien-Amico, and Natasha Watley.
As for the Force, after taking their lumps with a last place finish in their first season in 2006, last season jumped up in the standings with a 24-20 record and fourth place NPF tally. Gensch will be looking to join a club that includes talent from such power conferences as the Big Ten, Big XII, and SEC.
Team and league information courtesy of www.profastpitch.com and www.philadelphiaforce.com.
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